Proverbs 21

1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD,

Like the rivers of water; 

He turns it wherever He wishes.

2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,

But the LORD weighs the hearts.

3 To do righteousness and justice

Is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

4 A haughty look, a proud heart,

And the plowing of the wicked are sin.

5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty,

But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.

6 Getting treasures by a lying tongue

Is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death.

7 The violence of the wicked will destroy them,

Because they refuse to do justice.

8 The way of a guilty man is perverse;

But as for the pure, his work is right.

9 Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop,

Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

10 The soul of the wicked desires evil;

His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.

11 When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise;

But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.

12 The righteous God wisely considers the house of the wicked,

Overthrowing the wicked for their wickedness.

13 Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor

Will also cry himself and not be heard.

14 A gift in secret pacifies anger,

And a bribe behind the back, strong wrath.

15 It is a joy for the just to do justice,

But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.

16 A man who wanders from the way of understanding

Will rest in the assembly of the dead.

17 He who loves pleasure will be a poor man;

He who loves wine and oil will not be rich.

18 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous,

And the unfaithful for the upright.

19 Better to dwell in the wilderness,

Than with a contentious and angry woman.

20 There is desirable treasure,

And oil in the dwelling of the wise, 

But a foolish man squanders it.

21 He who follows righteousness and mercy

Finds life, righteousness, and honor.

22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty,

And brings down the trusted stronghold.

23 Whoever guards his mouth and tongue

Keeps his soul from troubles.

24 A proud and haughty man—“Scoffer” is his name;

He acts with arrogant pride.

25 The desire of the lazy man kills him,

For his hands refuse to labor. 

26 He covets greedily all day long,

But the righteous gives and does not spare.

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;

How much more when he brings it with wicked intent!

28 A false witness shall perish,

But the man who hears him will speak endlessly.

29 A wicked man hardens his face,

But as for the upright, he establishes his way.

30 There is no wisdom or understanding

Or counsel against the LORD.

31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle,

But deliverance is of the LORD.

Psalm 18

1 I will love You, O LORD, my strength.

2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;

My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; 

My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 

3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised;

So shall I be saved from my enemies.

4 The pangs of death surrounded me,

And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid. 

5 The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me;

The snares of death confronted me. 

6 In my distress I called upon the LORD,

And cried out to my God; 

He heard my voice from His temple, 

And my cry came before Him, even to His ears.

7 Then the earth shook and trembled;

The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken, 

Because He was angry. 

8 Smoke went up from His nostrils,

And devouring fire from His mouth; 

Coals were kindled by it. 

9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down

With darkness under His feet. 

10 And He rode upon a cherub, and flew;

He flew upon the wings of the wind. 

11 He made darkness His secret place;

His canopy around Him was dark waters 

And thick clouds of the skies. 

12 From the brightness before Him,

His thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire.

13 The LORD thundered from heaven,

And the Most High uttered His voice, 

Hailstones and coals of fire. 

14 He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe,

Lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them. 

15 Then the channels of the sea were seen,

The foundations of the world were uncovered 

At Your rebuke, O LORD, 

At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.

16 He sent from above, He took me;

He drew me out of many waters. 

17 He delivered me from my strong enemy,

From those who hated me, 

For they were too strong for me. 

18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity,

But the LORD was my support. 

19 He also brought me out into a broad place;

He delivered me because He delighted in me.

20 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness;

According to the cleanness of my hands 

He has recompensed me. 

21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD,

And have not wickedly departed from my God. 

22 For all His judgments were before me,

And I did not put away His statutes from me. 

23 I was also blameless before Him,

And I kept myself from my iniquity. 

24 Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness,

According to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.

25 With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful;

With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless; 

26 With the pure You will show Yourself pure;

And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd. 

27 For You will save the humble people,

But will bring down haughty looks.

28 For You will light my lamp;

The LORD my God will enlighten my darkness. 

29 For by You I can run against a troop,

By my God I can leap over a wall. 

30 As for God, His way is perfect;

The word of the LORD is proven; 

He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

31 For who is God, except the LORD?

And who is a rock, except our God? 

32 It is God who arms me with strength,

And makes my way perfect. 

33 He makes my feet like the feet of deer,

And sets me on my high places. 

34 He teaches my hands to make war,

So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

35 You have also given me the shield of Your salvation;

Your right hand has held me up, 

Your gentleness has made me great. 

36 You enlarged my path under me,

So my feet did not slip.

37 I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them;

Neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed. 

38 I have wounded them,

So that they could not rise; 

They have fallen under my feet. 

39 For You have armed me with strength for the battle;

You have subdued under me those who rose up against me. 

40 You have also given me the necks of my enemies,

So that I destroyed those who hated me. 

41 They cried out, but there was none to save;

Even to the LORD, but He did not answer them. 

42 Then I beat them as fine as the dust before the wind;

I cast them out like dirt in the streets.

43 You have delivered me from the strivings of the people;

You have made me the head of the nations; 

A people I have not known shall serve me. 

44 As soon as they hear of me they obey me;

The foreigners submit to me. 

45 The foreigners fade away,

And come frightened from their hideouts.

46 The LORD lives!

Blessed be my Rock! 

Let the God of my salvation be exalted. 

47 It is God who avenges me,

And subdues the peoples under me; 

48 He delivers me from my enemies.

You also lift me up above those who rise against me; 

You have delivered me from the violent man. 

49 Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the Gentiles,

And sing praises to Your name.

50 Great deliverance He gives to His king,

And shows mercy to His anointed, 

To David and his descendants forevermore.

Proverbs 20

1 Wine is a mocker,

Strong drink is a brawler, 

And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

2 The wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion;

Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life.

3 It is honorable for a man to stop striving,

Since any fool can start a quarrel.

4 The lazy man will not plow because of winter;

He will beg during harvest and have nothing.

5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water,

But a man of understanding will draw it out.

6 Most men will proclaim each his own goodness,

But who can find a faithful man?

7 The righteous man walks in his integrity;

His children are blessed after him.

8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment

Scatters all evil with his eyes.

9 Who can say, “I have made my heart clean,

I am pure from my sin”?

10 Diverse weights and diverse measures,

They are both alike, an abomination to the LORD.

11 Even a child is known by his deeds,

Whether what he does is pure and right.

12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye,

The LORD has made them both.

13 Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty;

Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread.

14 “ It is good for nothing,” cries the buyer;

But when he has gone his way, then he boasts.

15 There is gold and a multitude of rubies,

But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

16 Take the garment of one who is surety for a stranger,

And hold it as a pledge when it is for a seductress.

17 Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,

But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.

18 Plans are established by counsel;

By wise counsel wage war.

19 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets;

Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.

20 Whoever curses his father or his mother,

His lamp will be put out in deep darkness.

21 An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning

Will not be blessed at the end.

22 Do not say, “I will recompense evil”;

Wait for the LORD, and He will save you.

23 Diverse weights are an abomination to the LORD,

And dishonest scales are not good.

24 A man’s steps are of the LORD;

How then can a man understand his own way?

25 It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy,

And afterward to reconsider his vows. 

26 A wise king sifts out the wicked,

And brings the threshing wheel over them.

27 The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD,

Searching all the inner depths of his heart.

28 Mercy and truth preserve the king,

And by lovingkindness he upholds his throne.

29 The glory of young men is their strength,

And the splendor of old men is their gray head.

30 Blows that hurt cleanse away evil,

As do stripes the inner depths of the heart.

Proverbs 19

1 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity

Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

2 Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge,

And he sins who hastens with his feet.

3 The foolishness of a man twists his way,

And his heart frets against the LORD.

4 Wealth makes many friends,

But the poor is separated from his friend.

5 A false witness will not go unpunished,

And he who speaks lies will not escape.

6 Many entreat the favor of the nobility,

And every man is a friend to one who gives gifts. 

7 All the brothers of the poor hate him;

How much more do his friends go far from him! 

He may pursue them with words, yet they abandon him.

8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul;

He who keeps understanding will find good.

9 A false witness will not go unpunished,

And he who speaks lies shall perish.

10 Luxury is not fitting for a fool,

Much less for a servant to rule over princes.

11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger,

And his glory is to overlook a transgression.

12 The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion,

But his favor is like dew on the grass.

13 A foolish son is the ruin of his father,

And the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping.

14 Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers,

But a prudent wife is from the LORD.

15 Laziness casts one into a deep sleep,

And an idle person will suffer hunger.

16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul,

But he who is careless of his ways will die.

17 He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD,

And He will pay back what he has given.

18 Chasten your son while there is hope,

And do not set your heart on his destruction.

19 A man of great wrath will suffer punishment;

For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.

20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction,

That you may be wise in your latter days.

21 There are many plans in a man’s heart,

Nevertheless the LORD’s counsel—that will stand.

22 What is desired in a man is kindness,

And a poor man is better than a liar.

23 The fear of the LORD leads to life,

And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; 

He will not be visited with evil.

24 A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl,

And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

25 Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary;

Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge.

26 He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother

Is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.

27 Cease listening to instruction, my son,

And you will stray from the words of knowledge.

28 A disreputable witness scorns justice,

And the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.

29 Judgments are prepared for scoffers,

And beatings for the backs of fools.

Psalm 17

1 Hear a just cause, O LORD,

Attend to my cry; 

Give ear to my prayer which is not from deceitful lips. 

2 Let my vindication come from Your presence;

Let Your eyes look on the things that are upright.

3 You have tested my heart;

You have visited me in the night; 

You have tried me and have found nothing; 

I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. 

4 Concerning the works of men,

By the word of Your lips, 

I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer. 

5 Uphold my steps in Your paths,

That my footsteps may not slip.

6 I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God;

Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech. 

7 Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand,

O You who save those who trust in You 

From those who rise up against them. 

8 Keep me as the apple of Your eye;

Hide me under the shadow of Your wings, 

9 From the wicked who oppress me,

From my deadly enemies who surround me.

10 They have closed up their fat hearts;

With their mouths they speak proudly. 

11 They have now surrounded us in our steps;

They have set their eyes, crouching down to the earth, 

12 As a lion is eager to tear his prey,

And like a young lion lurking in secret places.

13 Arise, O LORD,

Confront him, cast him down; 

Deliver my life from the wicked with Your sword, 

14 With Your hand from men, O LORD,

From men of the world who have their portion in this life, 

And whose belly You fill with Your hidden treasure. 

They are satisfied with children, 

And leave the rest of their possession for their babes.

15 As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness;

I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.

Proverbs 18

1 A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire;

He rages against all wise judgment.

2 A fool has no delight in understanding,

But in expressing his own heart.

3 When the wicked comes, contempt comes also;

And with dishonor comes reproach.

4 The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters;

The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.

5 It is not good to show partiality to the wicked,

Or to overthrow the righteous in judgment.

6 A fool’s lips enter into contention,

And his mouth calls for blows. 

7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction,

And his lips are the snare of his soul. 

8 The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles,

And they go down into the inmost body.

9 He who is slothful in his work

Is a brother to him who is a great destroyer.

10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower;

The righteous run to it and are safe. 

11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city,

And like a high wall in his own esteem.

12 Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty,

And before honor is humility.

13 He who answers a matter before he hears it,

It is folly and shame to him.

14 The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness,

But who can bear a broken spirit?

15 The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge,

And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

16 A man’s gift makes room for him,

And brings him before great men.

17 The first one to plead his cause seems right,

Until his neighbor comes and examines him.

18 Casting lots causes contentions to cease,

And keeps the mighty apart.

19 A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city,

And contentions are like the bars of a castle.

20 A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth;

From the produce of his lips he shall be filled.

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,

And those who love it will eat its fruit.

22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing,

And obtains favor from the LORD.

23 The poor man uses entreaties,

But the rich answers roughly.

24 A man who has friends must himself be friendly,

But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 17

1 Better is a dry morsel with quietness,

Than a house full of feasting with strife.

2 A wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame,

And will share an inheritance among the brothers.

3 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,

But the LORD tests the hearts.

4 An evildoer gives heed to false lips;

A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue.

5 He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker;

He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.

6 Children’s children are the crown of old men,

And the glory of children is their father. 

7 Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool,

Much less lying lips to a prince.

8 A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor;

Wherever he turns, he prospers.

9 He who covers a transgression seeks love,

But he who repeats a matter separates friends.

10 Rebuke is more effective for a wise man

Than a hundred blows on a fool.

11 An evil man seeks only rebellion;

Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

12 Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs,

Rather than a fool in his folly.

13 Whoever rewards evil for good,

Evil will not depart from his house.

14 The beginning of strife is like releasing water;

Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.

15 He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just,

Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.

16 Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom,

Since he has no heart for it?

17 A friend loves at all times,

And a brother is born for adversity.

18 A man devoid of understanding shakes hands in a pledge,

And becomes surety for his friend.

19 He who loves transgression loves strife,

And he who exalts his gate seeks destruction.

20 He who has a deceitful heart finds no good,

And he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil.

21 He who begets a scoffer does so to his sorrow,

And the father of a fool has no joy.

22 A merry heart does good, like medicine,

But a broken spirit dries the bones.

23 A wicked man accepts a bribe behind the back

To pervert the ways of justice.

24 Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding,

But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

25 A foolish son is a grief to his father,

And bitterness to her who bore him.

26 Also, to punish the righteous is not good,

Nor to strike princes for their uprightness.

27 He who has knowledge spares his words,

And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.

28 Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace;

When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.

Proverbs 16: 21-33

21 The wise in heart will be called prudent,

And sweetness of the lips increases learning.

22 Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it.

But the correction of fools is folly.

23 The heart of the wise teaches his mouth,

And adds learning to his lips.

24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,

Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.

25 There is a way that seems right to a man,

But its end is the way of death.

26 The person who labors, labors for himself,

For his hungry mouth drives him on.

27 An ungodly man digs up evil,

And it is on his lips like a burning fire. 

28 A perverse man sows strife,

And a whisperer separates the best of friends. 

29 A violent man entices his neighbor,

And leads him in a way that is not good. 

30 He winks his eye to devise perverse things;

He purses his lips and brings about evil.

31 The silver-haired head is a crown of glory,

If it is found in the way of righteousness.

32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,

And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap,

But its every decision is from the LORD.

Proverbs 16: 1-20

1 The preparations of the heart belong to man,

But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.

2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,

But the LORD weighs the spirits.

3 Commit your works to the LORD,

And your thoughts will be established.

4 The LORD has made all for Himself,

Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.

5 Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD;

Though they join forces, none will go unpunished.

6 In mercy and truth

Atonement is provided for iniquity; 

And by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil.

7 When a man’s ways please the LORD,

He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

8 Better is a little with righteousness,

Than vast revenues without justice.

9 A man’s heart plans his way,

But the LORD directs his steps.

10 Divination is on the lips of the king;

His mouth must not transgress in judgment. 

11 Honest weights and scales are the LORD’s;

All the weights in the bag are His work. 

12 It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness,

For a throne is established by righteousness. 

13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings,

And they love him who speaks what is right. 

14 As messengers of death is the king’s wrath,

But a wise man will appease it. 

15 In the light of the king’s face is life,

And his favor is like a cloud of the latter rain.

16 How much better to get wisdom than gold!

And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil;

He who keeps his way preserves his soul.

18 Pride goes before destruction,

And a haughty spirit before a fall. 

19 Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly,

Than to divide the spoil with the proud.

20 He who heeds the word wisely will find good,

And whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he.

Proverbs 15

1 A soft answer turns away wrath,

But a harsh word stirs up anger. 

2 The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly,

But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.

3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place,

Keeping watch on the evil and the good.

4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life,

But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

5 A fool despises his father’s instruction,

But he who receives correction is prudent.

6 In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,

But in the revenue of the wicked is trouble.

7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge,

But the heart of the fool does not do so.

8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,

But the prayer of the upright is His delight. 

9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,

But He loves him who follows righteousness.

10 Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way,

And he who hates correction will die.

11 Hell and Destruction are before the LORD;

So how much more the hearts of the sons of men.

12 A scoffer does not love one who corrects him,

Nor will he go to the wise.

13 A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance,

But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,

But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.

15 All the days of the afflicted are evil,

But he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.

16 Better is a little with the fear of the LORD,

Than great treasure with trouble. 

17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is,

Than a fatted calf with hatred.

18 A wrathful man stirs up strife,

But he who is slow to anger allays contention.

19 The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns,

But the way of the upright is a highway.

20 A wise son makes a father glad,

But a foolish man despises his mother.

21 Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment,

But a man of understanding walks uprightly.

22 Without counsel, plans go awry,

But in the multitude of counselors they are established.

23 A man has joy by the answer of his mouth,

And a word spoken in due season, how good it is!

24 The way of life winds upward for the wise,

That he may turn away from hell below.

25 The LORD will destroy the house of the proud,

But He will establish the boundary of the widow.

26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD,

But the words of the pure are pleasant.

27 He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house,

But he who hates bribes will live.

28 The heart of the righteous studies how to answer,

But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.

29 The LORD is far from the wicked,

But He hears the prayer of the righteous.

30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,

And a good report makes the bones healthy.

31 The ear that hears the rebukes of life

Will abide among the wise. 

32 He who disdains instruction despises his own soul,

But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding. 

33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom,

And before honor is humility.

Proverbs 14

1 The wise woman builds her house,

But the foolish pulls it down with her hands.

2 He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD,

But he who is perverse in his ways despises Him.

3 In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride,

But the lips of the wise will preserve them.

4 Where no oxen are, the trough is clean;

But much increase comes by the strength of an ox.

5 A faithful witness does not lie,

But a false witness will utter lies.

6 A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it,

But knowledge is easy to him who understands. 

7 Go from the presence of a foolish man,

When you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.

8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way,

But the folly of fools is deceit.

9 Fools mock at sin,

But among the upright there is favor.

10 The heart knows its own bitterness,

And a stranger does not share its joy.

11 The house of the wicked will be overthrown,

But the tent of the upright will flourish.

12 There is a way that seems right to a man,

But its end is the way of death.

13 Even in laughter the heart may sorrow,

And the end of mirth may be grief.

14 The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways,

But a good man will be satisfied from above.

15 The simple believes every word,

But the prudent considers well his steps. 

16 A wise man fears and departs from evil,

But a fool rages and is self-confident. 

17 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,

And a man of wicked intentions is hated. 

18 The simple inherit folly,

But the prudent are crowned with knowledge. 

19 The evil will bow before the good,

And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

20 The poor man is hated even by his own neighbor,

But the rich has many friends. 

21 He who despises his neighbor sins;

But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.

22 Do they not go astray who devise evil?

But mercy and truth belong to those who devise good.

23 In all labor there is profit,

But idle chatter leads only to poverty.

24 The crown of the wise is their riches,

But the foolishness of fools is folly.

25 A true witness delivers souls,

But a deceitful witness speaks lies.

26 In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence,

And His children will have a place of refuge. 

27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,

To turn one away from the snares of death.

28 In a multitude of people is a king’s honor,

But in the lack of people is the downfall of a prince.

29 He who is slow to wrath has great understanding,

But he who is impulsive exalts folly.

30 A sound heart is life to the body,

But envy is rottenness to the bones.

31 He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker,

But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.

32 The wicked is banished in his wickedness,

But the righteous has a refuge in his death.

33 Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding,

But what is in the heart of fools is made known.

34 Righteousness exalts a nation,

But sin is a reproach to any people.

35 The king’s favor is toward a wise servant,

But his wrath is against him who causes shame.

Proverbs 13

1 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,

But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

2 A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth,

But the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence. 

3 He who guards his mouth preserves his life,

But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.

4 The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing;

But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.

5 A righteous man hates lying,

But a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame. 

6 Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless,

But wickedness overthrows the sinner.

7 There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing;

And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.

8 The ransom of a man’s life is his riches,

But the poor does not hear rebuke.

9 The light of the righteous rejoices,

But the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

10 By pride comes nothing but strife,

But with the well-advised is wisdom.

11 Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished,

But he who gathers by labor will increase.

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.

13 He who despises the word will be destroyed,

But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.

14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life,

To turn one away from the snares of death.

15 Good understanding gains favor,

But the way of the unfaithful is hard. 

16 Every prudent man acts with knowledge,

But a fool lays open his folly.

17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,

But a faithful ambassador brings health.

18 Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction,

But he who regards a rebuke will be honored.

19 A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul,

But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.

20 He who walks with wise men will be wise,

But the companion of fools will be destroyed.

21 Evil pursues sinners,

But to the righteous, good shall be repaid.

22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,

But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.

23 Much food is in the fallow ground of the poor,

And for lack of justice there is waste.

24 He who spares his rod hates his son,

But he who loves him disciplines him promptly.

25 The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul,

But the stomach of the wicked shall be in want.

Proverbs 12

1 Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge,

But he who hates correction is stupid.

2 A good man obtains favor from the LORD,

But a man of wicked intentions He will condemn.

3 A man is not established by wickedness,

But the root of the righteous cannot be moved.

4 An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,

But she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones.

5 The thoughts of the righteous are right,

But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful. 

6 The words of the wicked are, “Lie in wait for blood,”

But the mouth of the upright will deliver them.

7 The wicked are overthrown and are no more,

But the house of the righteous will stand.

8 A man will be commended according to his wisdom,

But he who is of a perverse heart will be despised.

9 Better is the one who is slighted but has a servant,

Than he who honors himself but lacks bread.

10 A righteous man regards the life of his animal,

But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

11 He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread,

But he who follows frivolity is devoid of understanding.

12 The wicked covet the catch of evil men,

But the root of the righteous yields fruit. 

13 The wicked is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,

But the righteous will come through trouble. 

14 A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth,

And the recompense of a man’s hands will be rendered to him.

15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,

But he who heeds counsel is wise. 

16 A fool’s wrath is known at once,

But a prudent man covers shame. 

17 He who speaks truth declares righteousness,

But a false witness, deceit. 

18 There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword,

But the tongue of the wise promotes health. 

19 The truthful lip shall be established forever,

But a lying tongue is but for a moment. 

20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,

But counselors of peace have joy. 

21 No grave trouble will overtake the righteous,

But the wicked shall be filled with evil. 

22 Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD,

But those who deal truthfully are His delight.

23 A prudent man conceals knowledge,

But the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.

24 The hand of the diligent will rule,

But the lazy man will be put to forced labor.

25 Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression,

But a good word makes it glad.

26 The righteous should choose his friends carefully,

For the way of the wicked leads them astray.

27 The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting,

But diligence is man’s precious possession.

28 In the way of righteousness is life,

And in its pathway there is no death.

Proverbs 11

1 Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD,

But a just weight is His delight.

2 When pride comes, then comes shame;

But with the humble is wisdom.

3 The integrity of the upright will guide them,

But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them. 

4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,

But righteousness delivers from death. 

5 The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright,

But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness. 

6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,

But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust.

7 When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish,

And the hope of the unjust perishes. 

8 The righteous is delivered from trouble,

And it comes to the wicked instead. 

9 The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor,

But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered. 

10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices;

And when the wicked perish, there is jubilation. 

11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted,

But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

12 He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor,

But a man of understanding holds his peace.

13 A talebearer reveals secrets,

But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.

14 Where there is no counsel, the people fall;

But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

15 He who is surety for a stranger will suffer,

But one who hates being surety is secure.

16 A gracious woman retains honor,

But ruthless men retain riches. 

17 The merciful man does good for his own soul,

But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh. 

18 The wicked man does deceptive work,

But he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward. 

19 As righteousness leads to life,

So he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death. 

20 Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the LORD,

But the blameless in their ways are His delight. 

21 Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished;

But the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.

22 As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout,

So is a lovely woman who lacks discretion.

23 The desire of the righteous is only good,

But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

24 There is one who scatters, yet increases more;

And there is one who withholds more than is right, 

But it leads to poverty. 

25 The generous soul will be made rich,

And he who waters will also be watered himself. 

26 The people will curse him who withholds grain,

But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.

27 He who earnestly seeks good finds favor,

But trouble will come to him who seeks evil.

28 He who trusts in his riches will fall,

But the righteous will flourish like foliage.

29 He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind,

And the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,

And he who wins souls is wise.

31 If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth,

How much more the ungodly and the sinner.

Psalm 16

1 Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust.

2 O my soul, you have said to the LORD,

“You are my Lord, 

My goodness is nothing apart from You.” 

3 As for the saints who are on the earth,

“They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.”

4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another god;

Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer, 

Nor take up their names on my lips.

5 O LORD, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup;

You maintain my lot. 

6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;

Yes, I have a good inheritance.

7 I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel;

My heart also instructs me in the night seasons. 

8 I have set the LORD always before me;

Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;

My flesh also will rest in hope. 

10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol,

Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. 

11 You will show me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of joy; 

At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.